Intro to History & Cultures

This article is designed for internal writing use and not meant for eventual publication.

The cultures of Aropria are highly diverse. Regions, nations, races, religions, and communities all have their unique contributions to the array of cultural melting pots. This article explores an overview of these peoples, how they live and how they die, and provides resources for deeper dives.

The world is full of mysteries of the past that shout out to some, but for most, it is simply enough to survive. People are more likely to toil with shovels and fight with iron than search for answers with a handheld scryscreen.

History

The history of the continent plays a major role in the formation of cultures, regions, and nations. Major cataclysms, wars, and long stretches to peace all contribute to the world we see before us.

A deep dive into the timeline of the 4th Epoch, as well as the calendar, is a fascinating study. Much of our history has been lost to time. Much of the known history begins with the collapse of Empire of Iron, marking the end of the Age of Iron and tumultuous establishment of the Age of Foundlings. We find ourselves in the year 914 AF (Age of Foundlings). The ashes of the Empire of Iron bore many nations. Many of the records of the early years of the age (and of those that survived the Empire’s fall) were then lost in the Literary Purge in 153 AF, but over the recent centuries, Aropria has settled into a lengthy relative peace. Understanding of sciences, governance, and congruence has blossomed, as have rivalries and alliances.

Regional Map

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Geography, and the People Who Live There

Exploring Aropria means coming to discover how the world around influences the way people live their lives. Festivals, wedding rites, architecture, family structures, and local mythologies are rich and varied. The continent can be viewed in several major regions:

• Thelinis: Home of the great nations of Curath, Rowlem, and Nashriam, as well as the Cryptum city-state of Polyandrium. Thelinis as a cultural region was born of the Empire of Iron. Thelinis is a place of understanding and technology, as well as greed and slavery.
• Anock: A vast region of plains and lakes in the center of Aropria. It empcompasses the major city of Greenhome, as well as a number of towns and trade centers. Outside the settled lands, there are plenty of small settlements along the roads and rivers. Anock is the most populated region of Aropria, mostly due to its abundance of water, grazing lands, and temperate climate. The great nation of Caliharah dominates Anock.
• Thundering Sands - Bo Boreshevia: A great desert of shifting sands and miraculous wonders from ages past. The standoffish nation of Vas’tek controls this desolate gem. The Vas’n rely on scattered oases and their great oasis-city of Wayat’ujan.
• Durann: A land dominated by jungles, seafarers, and fledging pioneers. This region is home to the powerful seafaring nation of Alvania and the young nation of Karg. The native flora and fauna are varied, colorful, and vicious.
• Zingare: A remote island region, known for the fierce warriors of Garshalla and mysterious Alium nation of Kende. The island features purple bedrock and a mysterious oceanic mountain range.
• Misku’un: A frozen mountainous northland that shelters hidden valleys and ancient cave systems. Misku’un, while technically Rowlem, mostly sees to itself.
• Lonely Fjords: Home of the mysterious Likem people, a region claimed by many and ruled by none. The Lonely Fjords feature steep, nigh-impassable mountains that rise nearly from the coastline itself, leaving very little land for people to live on, and even less that’s suitable for grazing. The coastline is mostly rocky with very few sand beaches.
• Wildlands: A land only the very brave or the very stupid dare to travel. It is a land dominated by wondrous and dangerous beasts. Attempts have been made to settle the land but none have succeeded.
• The Swirl: A strange stretch of land buried off the coast of the southwestern shores of the continent in the shape of its namesake, rising at highest only 1000 feet above sea level. The entire island series is surrounded by dangerous rocks to the north and impenetrable dead water everywhere else. It is generally regarded as untamable, and holds a mystery of a past epoch.
• The Blighted Lands: Home of an unfathomable mystery. The Blighted Lands drain away the very congruence within you.

Important cultural locations include:

• Qala di Ciel - the city in the clouds
• The Vellidan - the great center of healing, found in Nashriam
• Library of Kaas - the great collection of knowledge, found in Curath
• As well as many Congruence Schools throughout the continent

Further understanding of cultures includes a study of the many races who live and work together, including Alium, Ophidians, Primordials, Synthoids, Cryptum, and Humans. Additionally, a study of religions and the other Divinities who walk among the mortals reveals abundant views on the world.